Insulator and cut-out switch.



H. L. LOWE. msumoa AND CUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 22. I916 Patented EIept. 11, 1917,

MN 33 aw M I anti 3.3.

I Attorneys HARRY L. Lown, or CLINTON,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO CLINTON SWITCH COMPANY, OF CLINTON, INDIANA.

INSULATOR AND CUT-OUT SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Sept. 11, 1917..

Application filed December 22, 1916. Serial N 0. 138,407.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LHARRY L. LOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Vermilion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Insulator and Cut-Out Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to insulators and cut out switches for trolley wires, and it is the object of the invention to provide a device of that character of novel and improved construction, to enhance the utility and efiiciency thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of the character described, of novel means foractuating and holding the switch member in either open 7 or closed position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevationof the device showing the switch member in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view. showing the switch member'in open position, portions being removed and broken away.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections taken on the respective section lines 33 and 44 of" Fig. 1. o i

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a pair of metallic members or sections 1 which are conductors ofelectrical energy, and which are provided with lower socketed portions 2 projecting away from one another for receiving the terminals of the trolley wire sections 3 which are clamped within the portions 2 by means of set screws 4: or otherwise. The members 1 are provided at the basal ends of the portions '2 with upstanding hanger portions 5 which are attachable to the suspension means or overhead supporting structure for suspending the device and trolley wire in any suitable manner. The members 1 have tongues 6 at their lower portions projecting toward one another in alinement with the portions 2 and under which the trolley wheel is adapted to run in contact therewith. The

members 1' have webs 7 between the portions 5 andtongues 6, which are connected for rigidly uniting the members 1, by means of vertical side plates 8 bridging the space between the tongues 6 and located between the portions 5 above said tongues, bolts 9 or other clamping elements extending transversely through the end portions of the plates 8 and the webs 7 to clamp the webs between the plates, whereby to provide a rigid structure. Insulation 10 is disposed between the plates 8 and webs 7 and also extends between the ends of the plates 8 and portions 5 and between the lower edges of said plates and the tongues 6, thereby insulating the plates 8 from the members 1, so that said members are insulated from one another. The upper edges of the plates 8 have inturned flanges or lips 11 contacting with each other, to close the upper portion of the space between the plates 8, and the insulation 10 also extends between the up per ends of the webs 7 and the flanges 11. Insulating rings 12 are preferably disposed within the openings of the webs 7 around the bolts 9 to complete the insulation between the plates 8 and members 1.

The plates 8 are provided with longitudinal opposed slots 13 between the webs 7, and with outstanding apertured ears 14 and 15 at opposite sides above and below said slots.

The switch member comprises a disk 16 of fiber or other insulating material disposed between the plates 8 in the median plane of members 1 and also located between the webs 7, said disk 16 being mounted for oscillation upon a transverse pivotpin 17 engaged through the plates 8 and disk 16 between the ends of said plates below the slots 13. The disk 16 has a straight edge 18 which is brought between and in ali11ement with the lower edges of the tongues 6 when the disk or switch member 16 is,

turned to open position, and a metallic bridging member 19 of U-shaped cross section straddles and is fitted upon the marginal portion of the disk16 at substantially right angles with the edge 18. The memher 19 is secured upon-thedisk by means of rivets 20 or other securing elements eX- tending through the member 19 and disk. The member 19 has a straight edge 21 at right angles with the straight edge 18 and tion. Contact strips 22, arranged in pairs,

are secured to opposite sides of-the tongues 6 by means of screws 23, or the llke, and

project toward one another so that their I the disk 16.

ber 19 is broughtbetween the two pairs of inner or adjacent ends overlap thefaces' of Thus, when the disk 16 is turned to closed position, the bridging memcontact strips 22, so that the protruding ends of said strips overlap-the member 19,

whereby said member bridges the gap between the contact strips and said contact -strips being secured to'the members 1 will thereby electrically connect said members and the trolley wire sections 3 in this posi-u l tion of the disk 16.

turned to bring the edge 18 lowermost, the

When the disk 16 is member 19 is removed from one pair of 1 contact strips 22, thereby disconnectingthe strips 22 and members 1 electrically, for

( opening-the circuit at this point, thereby providingthe cut out switch.

In order to oscillate the disk 16,1said a disk is provided with a radial open slot 24: at that point diametrically opposite the point intermediate the edges 18 and 21. Thedisk 16 has diverging shoulders 25 at the open end or mouth ot-the Slot 2st for the purpose which will presently appear.

" suitable manner, and if desired, an operat-.

An operating lever or arm 26 extends through the slots 13 and 01 1* end pivotally engaging a pivot bolt 01'. ele ment 27 extending through the apertures of the cars 14 and 15 at one side of the device.

Said lever can be pivoted to either pair of cars so as to'project toward the desired side. The lever 26 can be operated in any ing mechanism can be connected theretoifor operating the lever from a distant point.

' tion, the lever 26 will start to move out of the slot 24; and will move across the respec- WVhen the lever 26 is swung in one direction, said lever in working in the slot 2liwvill" turn the disk 16 in the corresponding direc- 'tion to either open or closed position, and

when the disk 16 reaches its proper posi- 1 tive shoulder 25, which 'will lock the disk 16 in position, so'that the engagement of the trolley wheels therewith is not apt to 1 turn said disk. The disk cannot turn in one direction due to the abutment of therespective shoulder 25 against the lower surface I of the lever 26, and the disk 16 cannot turn in the other direction due tothe contact of the opposite edge of theslot 24 with the upper portion of the lever 26. This is true and has one in either position ofthe disk 16. In other 7 words, the operating device for the disk 16 is irreversible, in that the disk 16 can be readily actuated byoperating the'lever 26, but the parts cannot be operated by applying force to the disk 16 without swinging the lever 26.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device otthe character described embodying a pair of spaced members, a pair of plates extending between said-members, means securingIsaid plates and members together, insulation between said plateswand members to insulate them :fromione another, a disk of -insulatingczmaterial pivoted between saidi plates to; zrotate= about ea transverse axis in the plane of said members and having aibr-iclging member atone point, and contact strips carried by -thefirst mentioned members below said plates :and projecting toward one another, said-contact strips overlapping the faces ofsaiddisk to be bridged by the .bridgingmember 'below said plates when the disk isturnecl to one position.

2. A device of the character. rlescribedembodying. a pair of spaced members; a pair of vplates. between said members, means securing said plates and membersmtogether, insulatlonibetween said plates 'and members to insulateithenr from one. another, a disk of u insulating material pivoted between. isaid plates and having abridging member at one point, cont-act strips carried byzthefirstmentioned v members and projectingutowardv'one another, said contact strips overlapping said disk to be briclgedbyrtheibridgingmember whenthe disk is turned to one positionaone of said. plateshavingaslot, a' lever pivotally connected with the other plate and exwtending through said slot, said disk having a slot in whichisaid lever '-worksfor:cscil relating the disk when the lever is swung.

3. A device of the"characteridescribed embodying a pair of plates, one having a slot, .a disk of insulating-material pivoted be- 1 tween saidizplatesigandhaving a bridging" member, and a lever pivotedi to/the other plateand-extending through saidslot, said disk having a slot iniwhich said lever works for oscillating the disk when thelever is swung. I i i 1. A deviceoi? the characte'r"described having .a pairof members spaced apart, aswitch member mounted for turning movement about a transverse axis between said members, and havinga bridging member to be movedinto andout of bridging position between said pair of'members and aitransversely extending lever pivotally mounted between said pair ofmembers, .the switch member having a slot through: whiclitthe leverprojects.

5. A device ofthe character described having-a pair of members spaced :apartand 13 provided with contact portions, a connecis partially movable when swung in either tion between said members, a switch member direction.

pivoted to said connection to rotate about a In testimony that I claim the foregoing as transverse axis and having a bridgingmemmy own, I have hereto afiixed my signature 5 her adapted to be moved into and out of in the presence of two witnesses.

bridging position between said contact portions, and a lever pivoted to said connection HARRY LOWE and extending to one side, the'switch mem- Witnesses: her having a radial open slot through which MARK W. LYDAY,

10 said lever projects and from which the lever W. S. PINsoN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

